The Necklace Guy de Maupassant

Reading Packet

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Name:
Period:

Words to Know
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Create vocabulary maps for each of the following words.

prospects: chances for success.

disconsolate: very unhappy, beyond cheering up
vexation: anger or annoyance
pauper: a poor person
predicament: a difficult embarrassing situation
aghast: horrified, in disbelief
askew: crooked; on one side

Literary Terms
Define each term from your notes, and apply each term to the story by answering
the questions.
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Setting
Definition:
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What is the setting of the story?
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Protagonist
Definition:
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Who is the protagonist in the story?
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Theme

Definition:
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What is the theme of this story?
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Conflict
Definition:
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Internal Conflict:
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External Conflicts:
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What is the main conflict in this story?
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Mini Lesson: VALUES are those things that individuals feel are important in their lives. Some
peoples values are based on material things, while other people value spiritual things more. Try to
decide what the necklace in the story symbolizes and connect what it means to Madame Loisel and
her sense of values.

Climax
Definition:
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What is the climax of the story?
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Irony
Definition:
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3 Types of Irony and definition
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2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Which type(s) of irony did you find in the story? Be sure to explain the irony you found.
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Questions
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Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Do not use pronouns
be specific.
1.
Why is Madame Loisel unhappy with her life at the beginning of the story?
2.
What kind of life does Mathilde want? [consider her dreams]
3.
Name three important facts that you learned about the character of
Mathilde in the
first two paragraphs.
4.
Why did M. Loisel expect his wife to be pleased to receive the invitation
from the
Minister of Education?
5.
Describe Mme. Loisels reaction on reading the invitation.
6.
Why had M. Loisel been saving 400 Francs?
7.
Why was Mme. Loisel anxious to hurry away from the ball?
8.
What efforts were made to find Madame Forestiers necklace?
9.
Why were the Loisels allowed to buy the new necklace for less than the
asking price?
10. How did Monsieur Loisel contribute to the cost of the new necklace?
11. Describe how the Loisels life changed after they had paid for the new
necklace.
12. How did Mme. Forestier recognize Mme. Loisel when they met in the
Champs-Elysees?
13. What was Madame Forestiers reaction when the necklace was returned?

Close Reading
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Apply close reading (Marking the Text) to The Necklace